Although Modern Philanthropic Physicians Open Gigantic Hospitals, There Are No Hospitals to Cure the Material Disease of the Spirit Soul

Chaitanya Charitamrita

Adi Lila | Chapter 10

Text 51

cikitsā karena yāre ha-iyā sadaya

deha-roga bhava-roga,—dui tāra ksaya

TRANSLATION

As Murari Gupta treated his patients, by his mercy both their bodily and spiritual diseases subsided.

PURPORT

Murari Gupta could treat both bodily and spiritual disease because he was a physician by profession and a great devotee of the Lord in terms of spiritual advancement. This is an example of service to humanity. Everyone should know that there are two kinds of diseases in human society.

The entrance of Murari Gupta’s house in Mayapur-Navadvipa Dhama, West Bangal | Sri Murari Gupta was an intimate associate of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

One disease, which is called adhyātmika, or material disease, pertains to the body, but the main disease is spiritual. The living entity is eternal, but somehow or other, when in contact with the material energy, he is subjected to the repetition of birth, death, old age and disease. The physicians of the modern day should learn from Murari Gupta.

Although modern philanthropic physicians open gigantic hospitals, there are no hospitals to cure the material disease of the spirit soul. The Krishna consciousness movement has taken up the mission of curing this disease, but people are not very appreciative because they do not know what this disease is. A diseased person needs both proper medicine and a proper diet, and therefore the Krishna consciousness movement supplies materially stricken people with the medicine of the chanting of the holy name, or the Hare Krishna mahā-mantra, and the diet of prasādam. There are many hospitals and medical clinics to cure bodily diseases, but there are no such hospitals to cure the material disease of the spirit soul. The centers of the Krishna consciousness movement are the only established hospitals that can cure man of birth, death, old age and disease.